Richmond detective says Blacknell suspected in several other murders

Analysis of shell casings suggests a link between four killings in Oakland and Richmond and many of the 22 felonies for which Joe Blacknell III is on trial, Richmond Police Det. Christopher Llamas testified Thursday.

The revelation came after weeks of testimony in the closely-watched case. Blacknell, now 21, is charged with shooting and killing Marcus Russell on March 10, 2009 and wounding four people on September 13 that same year. Blacknell also faces more than a dozen other charges, including carjacking and weapons violations. The trial is one of the biggest murder cases in Richmond in years, with prosecutors and police saying Blacknell is an exceptionally violent and prolific gang member.

But Blacknell’s attorney, and his friends and family, say he has become a fall guy for a series of violent crimes he did not commit. Blacknell has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorney, Diana Garrido, says her client has alibis for his whereabouts and is the target of shaky prosecution desperate to get a conviction.

For the first time since the trial’s January 17 start, the jury heard testimony that toolmark experts in the county crime lab have matched .40 caliber casings expended at the September 13 crime scenes with four other homicides that occurred in the preceding days. September 13 “was just the continuation of the crime spree,” Llamas said, under questioning from Deputy District Attorney Derek Butts. Blacknell is not directly linked to the gun – which has not been recovered – that fired the .40 caliber casings, but evidence suggests that the same weapon was one of those used in other crimes Blacknell allegedly committed.